Well packer mechanism



June 1, 1937.

1 A. LAYNE 2,082,111

WELL PACKER MECHANISM Filed July 16, 1934 l 2 sheets-sheet. 2

Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

My invention relates to well packers, and is particularly adapted to the setting of a packer into the well where rotation of the drill or setting stem is desired. y

It is a common diiiiculty with the usual strainer and packer setting mechanism now ordinarily employed, that While going into the hole it is difcult or impossible to rotate the strainer and packer and to force the same downwardly through obstructions in the well such as are sometimes encountered.

It is an object of my invention to provide atl the lower end of the strainer a boring tool which may be employed in clearing out the well below the strainer while the strainer is being introduced and to so form the packing seating mechanism that it will notbe'unlatched or disturbed during the drilling of the lower end of the well bore.

It is a further object to provide a means to restrain the packing against movement to seating position, which will be strongly constructed that it will not be in danger of collapse while the necessary drilling operations are being accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to pro-V vide means fcrreleasing the packer so that the packing element may be collapsed after the operatior'is of completingv the well have been accomplished.

I desire to provide a frangible disc to support the packing against accidental collapse which may be rendered ineiective by the striking of a` blow thereon when the collapse of the packing is desired.

'the invention resides in the particular construction of the packer control mechanism which enables the drill stem and strainer to be rotated without danger of breaking or releasing of the packing before it is desired to expand the same.

In the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a portion of the drill stem above the strainer and disclosing the locking mechanism which I employ.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the plane 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar transverse section taken on the plane 3-3 immediately above the frangible disc which I employ in locking the packer against the latch.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the packer assembly andshowing the manner in which it is mounted upon the drillstem. Y p Y y, Fig, 5 shows the lower end of the drill stem including thebitand strainer. l My invention is adapted to bemounted upon a drill stem equipped with a packer, and to provide means whereby the drill stem and bit may be rotated without interfering with the packer.

4,In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown the drill stem I equipped with a packing 2 thereon, of the canvas type, said packing being mounted upon a special section of the drill stem including a lower nipple 3 connected by means of the coupling 4 to enter the lower section of the drill stem 5. Below the section 5 of the drill stem is the strainer. This strainer may be of any desired commercial type. I have shown a wire wound well screen 6 mounted upon a perforated pipe 1 connected at its lower end by a drill collar 8 to a Well drill 9 of any preferred type.v One of the most common uses for the tool would be in combination with a drill bit and strainer where a packer was desired so that all of these parts will be assembled together as a unit such as seen in Fig. 5.

-When the device is used in this manner it is lowered into the well bore through the casing. This casing, as is the general practice, is seated on the lower end of the well bore and has cement positioned down through the casing and upwardly around the lowerl end to anchor it in position. After the cement has set it is then desirable to drill an opening through the plug of cement and to lower the well screen into this opening which is vdrilled through the cement and to set the packer directly above this opening in the lower end of the Well casing. For this reason the screen isv assembled in the unit below the packer and may be spaced therefrom by any suitable length of pipe such as 5 in order that therscreen area will come adjacent the producing formation. This operation is known as drilling in the well or drilling the plug and it is because of the necessity of rotating the drill bit 9 that the particular interlocking construction is had between the packer and those parts which are assembled below it. When the drilling operation has been completed then the interlocking members are released and the packer set so that the entire operation has been carried out by one string of pipe and without removing the parts from the well. The invention is not so limited, however, to such an assembly as the packer may be set by any suitable tool independent of the drill stem or strainer.

The usual method of mounting a packer upon the drill stem. above` the strainer does not allow the rotation of thezpipe without endangering the means by whichj the packer is locked against collapse Aduring its insertion into the well. My invention is connected particularly with a latching means for the packer which will allow the rotation of the drill stem without the collapse of the packer. In accomplishing this object, I form the packer as shown particularly in Figs. l to 3. The canvas packing element 2 is mounted upon an inner packer barrel Iii, and the upper end of the packing is secured to the barrel by means of a winding oi wire I3. A collar I2 fixed on the barrel holds the packing against upward movement on the barrel. Thelower endof-A, the canvas packing is wound about thereduced upper end I@ of a special packer supporting coupling member I5, said coupling member being slidabieupon the barrel I0. A c

The lower end of the special coupling'd is formed with a threaded connection at it with the upper end Il of the lowerrswedged nipple 3. Ordinarily to collapse the packer the-barrel I@ would slide thru the coupling I5 sothatlthe packing 2 would be wedged between the collar I2 andthe coupling i5. When pressure is to be applied to the drill bit below the packer and rotation is also necessary the barrel Iii must be latched Vto the nipple 3 so that there -will be no relative rotational or longitudinal movement. To accomplish this' some suitable interengaging device must be provided. Such devices may take many forms such as a dental clutch, locking dogs, or as here illustrated Ias a splined connection by means of the" ribbed rings II and I8, one of which is mounted'on the barrel I0 and one on the upper vend il ofthe nipple 3. These parts may be termed clutches and have the interiitting ribs or lugs andy groovesv 25 and 26. When engagedas seen in-Fig.-1 the ribsv and grooves compel rotation of the nipple 3Y-with the barrel I!l. f

These two parts, that is, the inner barrel I0 with the clutch member II thereon and the supportingmember `I5 andthe nipple 3 with the clutch member i8 thereon','are relativelymovable longitudinallyto collapse the packer when desired. It is thus necessary tofprovide a latch or restraining device to prevent such longitudinal movement until itis desired to collapse the packer. Thus in lowering the tool into the well and during drilling, one such Alatch may be a transverse disc or plate I9- which tswithin the upper end I'I or the swedged nipple 3- resting upon a shoulder 2i) thereon.' The upper surface of the disc serves Yas a stop ifor the .lower end oi" the packer barrel lII! and `clutch-member I I. The disc'vli is made of some ra'ngible material such as cast iron or the likeyfand has a central opening 2i therein through which ilushing fluid may pass. To make the Same more easily breakable, I have' a plurality of radial grooves 122 inthe upper' surfaceofthe disc. These grooves are V-shaped in cross-section and have at their outer ends a lnotch or opening Z3 which tendsto permit breakage of the disc when a blow is struck-upon the plate axiallythereof. As will be noted, this plateVV will stand a strong compression adjacent its outer margin where it rests upon the shoulder 2li. It is', however, easily breakable when a vblow is struck toward the center of the disc, and thisl accomplish bydropping a ball-indicated in Vdotted Vlinesat '24 downwardly through the drill stem, and under the force of theV flushing'fluidand against the 'upper face of the plate at the openingZI. vA blow thus struck with some Yforcefdue'tothe'action of the pump will-break thedisc allowing-:each of the sector-shaped sections to :drop inwardly-away from thelower `e'n'd ofv the packer barrel-.1 and Tby dropping the ball 2li,

allow the said barrel to be moved downwardly.

In the use of my device, the well screen with the drill at the lower end thereof, will beV assembled in a single string with the packer spaced above the same at the desired level. In going into the hole it will be possible to drill through any bridges that may have been formed in the hole so that the screen may be moved downwardly to the proper position, and it is possible, if desired, to drill into the producingformation with the parts ,thus mounted. vWl'ienthe screen is in the desired position, the packer may be set or some similar object, into the drill stem and pumping the same down- `wardly with some force against the disc I9 so as rto, shatter it into pieces which will drop away from the original position and allow the inner barrel to movedownwardly. A thrust will then be exerted upon the drill stem to force the packer barrel II! downwardly collapsing the packing element 2 longitudinally thereof so Vas to'force it outwardly into packing position, and closing the space between the drillfstem and the: inner wall of the casing.

The advantage of myY invention lies in thev fact f.

that the packer is held against collapse longitudinally in such a manner that heavy thrusts may be Supported on the locking'mechanism without danger of its breaking or permitting the collapse of the packer before it is desired to release the same. This enables the drill to rotate and to perform a limited amount'of drilling even when the strainer and' packer are mounted in position for setting in the: bottom of the well. This is difcult, or impossible to accomplish with the usual type of setting mechanism. The advantages of this structure will be apparent.

While I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is capable of various modicationswithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention contemplatcslb'r'oadly a releasable connection between the parts above the packer and those below so that releasing and setting of the packer may be accomplished after the desired rotation has been had.

' What I claim as new is: Y A.

l'. A wellV finishing tool comprising a driil pipe, a packer to seal the well around the pipe thereon, a well strainer on said pipe Vbelow said packer, and a drill bit belowsaid strainer also onV said pipe, in'combination with aconnecting device between said packerv andsaiddrill pipe to prevent relative rotation, and means in said tool holding said packer and said-pipe,Y against relative longitudinal movement, but adapted to be removed when desired to allow longitudinal movement to expand said packer.

2. A well iinishing tool to `be loweredinto the well as a unit comprising a 'drill ,pipe, a packer thereon, a well strainer below. said packer, and a drill bit below said strainer, in combination with a connecting device between said packer and said drill pipe at the lower endof said packer, adapted to prevent relative rotation, means on said pipe holding said packer and said.` pipe against relative longitudinal movement, 'but adapted to be rendered ineffective to prevent relative longitudinal movement by a blow upon said means, and means separate from said-tool to strike such blow. 3. A well finishing device'including a well drill with a connected strainer abovefthe same, aipackerV including a packer barrel-connected above said strainer, a packingtlrereonf-andffa drillpipe above .fsaidifpacker' in coml'iir'ia'tion:f"w1'th't "means to prevent relative rotation between said packer barrel and the pipe below the same, but adapted to permit it to slide longitudinally relative thereto, and a plate upon which said packer barrel is supported to prevent longitudinal movement, adapted to be rendered ineffective by a blow centrally thereof and to then allow said packer barrel to move longitudinally, relative to said pipe, and expand said packing.

4. A well nishing device including a well drill with a connected strainer above the same, a packer having a packer barrel connected above said strainer, a packing thereon, and a drill pipe above said packer in combination with means to prevent relative rotation between said packer barrel and the pipe below the same, but adapted to permit it to slide longitudinally relative thereto, and a frangible plate extending across said barrel grooves in said plate grooved to permit it to shatter and become ineffective, and means to strike a blow on said plate to break and remove the same.

5. A Well pipe, a packer barrel connected therewith, a connecting nipple below said barrel, clutch collars carried by said barrel and nipple and disposed between said barrel and said nipple acting to prevent relative rotation between said barrel and nipple, but allowing longitudinal movement, supporting means below said barrel to support said barrel upon said nipple, said supporting means including a frangible plate supported at its margin in said nipple, and separate means to strike a blow on said plate and remove the same.

6. A well pipe, a packer barrel connected therewith, a connecting nipple below said barrel, means between said barrel and said nipple and carried thereby to prevent relative rotation between said barrel and nipple, but allowing longitudinal movement, supporting means below said barrel to support said barrel upon said nipple, said supporting means including a frangible plate supported at its margin in said nipple, said plate having a central opening therethrough andv separate means to strike a blow on said plate and remove the same so that said barrel may move relative to said nipple to set the packer.

'7. A well pipe, a packer including a packer barrel connected thereto, a packing on said barrel, a nipple below said barrel, means locking said nipple and said barrel to prevent relative rotation between them, a plate supported in said nipple and serving to support said means in locking position, said plate having a central opening and grooves radiating from said opening, and means to remove said plate to release said locking means and allow longitudinal movement of said barrel on said nipple.

8. A well pipe, a packer barrel connected thereto, a packing on said barrel, a nipple below said barrel, interengaging means connecting said nipple and said barrel to prevent relative rotation between them, a plate supported in said nipple and serving to support said barrel on said nipple with said means engaged, said plate being of frangible material and having a plurality of openings therein and grooves in its surface to make it easily breakable, and means to be acted upon by the flushing liquid to break and remove said plate so that said barrel may move toset said packing.

9. A packer in combination with a packer setting tool of the type wherein rotation may be had before collapsing the packer including a packer barrel, a packer supporting pipe, and interengaging means on said barrel and pipe to compel rotation of said barrel and support, said means being releasable.

10. A packer setting tool of the type wherein rotation may be had before collapsing the packer including a packer barrel, a packer supporting member, interengaging means to compel rotation of said barrel and support, said means being releasable, and additional means including a breakout rin-g carried by said member and supporting said barrel whereby said interengaging means is released.

11. In a packer setting tool, a barrel, a packing thereon, a packer support member, said barrel and member being relatively slidable to set the packing, and a removable ring disposed beneath said barrel and on said support member to release said barrel for sliding.

12. In a packer setting tool, a barrel, a packing carried thereby, a packer support member, said barrel and member being relatively slidable to set the packing, a removable ring disposed beneath said Abarrel and on said support to prevent sliding, and interengaging means on said barrel and member adapted for removal upon removal of said ring.

13. In a packer setting tool, a barrel, a packing carried thereby, a packer support member, said barrel and member being relatively slidable to set said packing, a removable ring disposed beneath said barrel and on said support to prevent sliding, and interengaging means on said barrel and member adapted for removal upon removal of said ring, said ring being frangible.

14. In a packer setting tool, a barrel, a packer support member, said barrel and member being relatively slidable to set the packing, a ring disposed beneath said barrel and on said support to prevent sliding, and interengaging means on said barrel and member adapted for release upon release of said ring, said ring being frangible, and additional means to break-out said ring and release said means.

15. A packing assembly to be lowered intoa well bore including a support pipe, a shoulder thereon, a breakout ring on said shoulder, a packer barrel supported on said ring, a packing on said barrel and abutting the upper end of said pipe, slidable but non-rotatable interengaging ribs o-n said pipe and barrel whereby rotation of said barrel is imparted to said pipe, a drill on the lower end of said pipe to be rotated therewith, and means to break out said ring so that said ribs may slide and said barrel telescope into said pipe to set said packing.

16. The combination of a string of pipe to be lowered into a well bore including a packer, strainer and drill bit connected respectively to the lower end of said pipe and to each other, slidable nonrotatable means between the packer and strainer, and a breakout ring normally locking said means sothat said bit may be rotated but releasable to set said packer.

LESLIE A. LAYNE. 

